PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK: Wendell a center of attention

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick calls Ryan Wendell's development 'a great story.' The veteran center finds competition in the form of fourth-round draft pick Bryan Stork at this year's training camp.

“I’d say it’s been about as big of a progression as really any player could have, any player I’ve had or any player could have,” the head coach said Tuesday, speaking of the development he’s seen since Ryan Wendell originally signed with the team as a rookie free agent in May 2008. “Maybe (former guard) Steve Neal, but it’s the same kind of thing: Guys that weren’t even on the practice squad that eventually became starting players in the NFL. That’s a pretty good jump.

“It took a lot of time, a lot of hard work, and he’s certainly done his part and worked hard,” said Belichick. “He’s a very smart football player. He doesn’t have many missed assignments, does a good job with communication from the center position with the offensive line.”

Waived near the end of his first preseason with the Patriots, Wendell was signed to the team’s practice squad one month later. He opened 2009 in that same role before he was signed to the 53-man roster on the final day of that calendar year.

After starting five games (three at guard, two at center) during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, Wendell unseated Dan Koppen to become the Patriots’ man in the middle on a full-time basis at the start of the 2012 season. He’s started every game since.

According to Belichick, the 6-foot-2, 300-pounder has made the most of good coaching.

“He had very good coaching in college with Pat Hill (at Fresno State), had very good coaching here with Dante (Scarnecchia) and now ‘Googe’ (Dave DeGuglielmo),” said Belichick. “He’s also been the beneficiary of people who’ve been able to train him well like Moses (Cabrera, the Patriots’ assistant strength and conditioning coach who was a graduate assistant at Fresno State) did out at Fresno and Harold (Nash, the Patriots’ head strength and conditioning coach) and Moses are doing now. Physically, he’s developed. So he’s had a lot of good people to work with. He’s taken advantage of that.

“He’s put in a lot of sweat equity himself and he’s got a good result to show for it. It’s great. It’s a great story. It’s a great example of perseverance and dedication and hard work. It’s gotten good results. I love to see it.”

The results seemed to decline last season, however, which may have played a major part in the Patriots’ decision to invest a fourth-round draft pick in May in Florida State’s Bryan Stork, the 2013 Rimington Trophy winner as the top collegiate center in the country.

Page 2 of 2 - Stork left Tuesday’s training camp practice early with an undisclosed injury.

Hoomanawanui appeared to tweak something late Sunday and declined an interview request after that day’s practice.

In addition to Stork, wide receiver Josh Boyce was sidelined with an undisclosed injury during Tuesday’s practice.

On the plus side, cornerback Alfonzo Dennard (shoulder) came off the physically unable to perform list.

The week ahead: With a road trip to practice with and then play the Washington Redskins in the preseason opener (Aug. 7) beginning to come into view, Belichick labeled the upcoming week “big” in Foxboro.

“We need to get a lot done this week to put ourselves in a position to start competing from hereon, early next week, and through the rest of the season,” he said. “So this is our last chance, really, to work with ourselves.”